Northwestern University’s international campus in Doha, Qatar is committed to excellent teaching, innovative research, and the personal and intellectual growth of its students in a diverse academic community.

170 university applicants attend first session to gain competitive edge

Doha, Qatar – 22 January, 2013 – With the university’s admissions deadline of March 1st fast approaching, Northwestern University in Qatar has set in motion a series of workshops and tours to assist students and their guardians in preparing strong applications for the critical admissions process.

The ‘Get Ready! 2013 Admissions Success’ series, which attracted over 170 students to a workshop on writing an effective personal statement last week, is inviting prospective students and their guardians to a session titled ‘Discover Northwestern University,’ which features a presentation and guided tour of the school’s programs and facilities, including its state-of-the-art studio building on January 24th.

Another session on ‘Decision Makers Perspective and Financing Your Education’ will outline Qatar Foundation, Higher Education Institution and U.S. Federal Student Financial Aid as well the criteria that NU-Q admissions committees look for in a student’s application. This final event will take place on January 31.

The workshops are free and open to the public and are streamed live for interested applicants living outside Qatar. Online viewers are also able to send questions through instant messaging and receive responses from admissions staff on hand.

According to Everette E. Dennis, Dean and CEO of NU-Q, previous years have shown that the workshops improve the quality of applications and help students and their parents decide on a major course of study. “Our admissions staff, faculty and current students give applicants a clear idea of what it means to study at NU-Q and the opportunities available for them here, including our residency programs that allow students to gain on-the-ground experience in the US,” he said.

Amira Hariri, Admissions Specialist at NU-Q, believes that parents have the biggest impact on their children’s choices, yet often lack a clear picture around what the study of communication involves. “Because of this we’ve opened the door for both walk-in students and parents outside of the scheduled workshop times, and offer them brief one-on-one information sessions as well as quick tours of the university facilities.”

The latest workshop—‘Application Essays 101,’ delivered by manager of NU-Q’s Writing Center Trish Seapy—drew an overflow crowd looking to apply to NU-Q and other universities at Education City.

During the session, Seapy demonstrated how applicants can turn a life’s timeline of their most memorable moments into a powerful personal statement, and warned them against trying to over-impress the committee or relying on a computer’s spell-checker.

“I’ve learned a lot about how to prepare a strong application and I’ve also spoken to a lot of current students to get their insight and find out what I can do at NU-Q, and what I can get out of an education here,” said attendee Afif Haitsam, a high school student at Qatar International School.

“I’ve always been interested in doing communications and PR, and I came to this workshop after my friend told me about it,” said Ahmed Abudayeh, a student in his final year at Qatar Academy. “It’s been very interesting to get a broader view of NU-Q and what it offers, and I am looking forward to applying to this university.”

NU-Q is also participating in the Regional Counselors Program, organized by Hamad bin Khalifa University from 22-24 January, to give regional counselors the information and tools necessary for them to advise high school students around the GCC on the area of study that matches their skills and ambitions, and the respective admissions process.

“We’ve strived to make information about NU-Q readily accessible in as many forms as possible, because we feel it is our responsibility to offer prospective students the tools to make the most informed decision about which is the most suitable field of study for them, be it in media or any other field,” said Dean Dennis.

While the official deadline is March 1st, the ‘no-fee’ deadline for applications is February 10th. More information on workshops and admissions can be had via www.qatar.northwestern.edu/admissions.